The First World War
Outdoor Museums
The Isonzo Front, 1915 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 1917

You are magnificent,
bright daughter of the hills,
Graceful in beauty of your na
When the transparent depths
Are not disturbed by darkest
You are magnificent, you,
daughter of the hills!
Soči, Simon Gregorčič

ature,
s of yours,
raging storm,

The Valley of the SoÄ?a river is renowned
for its nature that fascinates with its
magnificence and tranquillity.
Every nook and cranny in the Upper
SoÄ?a Region keeps indelible memories of
the war. Every cave, trench, church,
trail, mule-track, hill, mountain,
cemetery has its own story for the
one who is willing to hear and see,
comprehend and feel respect.

The Valley of the Soča was part of the Isonzo Front during the First World
War. Lads and men of many nations fought, died and suffered along the Soča.
Numerous remains of that time have been preserved and they are the cultural
and historical heritage of national and international interest.
In charge of protection, preservation and presentation of this heritage is The
“Walks of Peace in the Soča Region Foundation” which, in collaboration with
historical and tourist societies from the Upper Soča Region, has arranged six
outdoor museums. The museums are located on those sections of the front
line where remains are more numerous and access rather easy.
In 2007, the outdoor museums, the most important monuments and memorials of the Isonzo Front, and natural beauties were connected into the Walk
of Peace, which begins at Log pod Mangartom and ends on Mengore hill.
The Walk runs through six outdoor museums: Ravelnik, Čelo, Zaprikraj,
Kolovrat, Mrzli vrh and Mengore. Along the walk there are military cemeteries and chapels, the fortification Kluže, the gorges of the Soča, the Koritnica
and the Tolminka, idyllic alps within the Triglav National Park area, the
Kozjak waterfall, two charnel houses, one at Kobarid another at Tolmin,
the memorial church of the Holy Spirit at Javorca, etc. The Walk of Peace is
marked and also furnished with visitors’ books, seals and information boards.
Its purpose is to present to visitors the cultural-historical heritage, the beauty
of nature and ethnological particularities. Visits to most of these places can
also be made as interesting hiking or biking tours, which offers the possibility
of an active rest in the peaceful and unspoiled nature.
The Walk of Peace is dedicated to the memory
of the victims of the First World War.

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Mountaineering equipment is recommended for the tour and the use of
flashlight is compulsory, since caves are parts of all outdoor museums. If
you do the tour without a guide, it is at your risk.

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Some of the six outdoor museums are located within the borders of the
Triglav National Park or they are classified as cultural monuments. The
areas of Mt. Rombon, the Krn range and Mengore are declared historical
areas in which stricter protection regimen applies.

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The visitors are expected to respect the natural and cultural heritage. They
must not take any remains of the First World War as their souvenirs.

Zemljevid

31 October 1915
It’s thundering, thundering … as if the
whole world went mad. The man, the
youths are falling – ours and Italian,
the wounded are moaning. The sun has
drowned in blood. Never before have I
seen so intensely blood-red sky and sun.
As if the sky and the sun both got drunk
of the holy human blood – because the
soil cannot soak it all in time
– What are you doing, man?
Albin Mlakar, Dnevnik 1914 – 1918, Turistična
agencija K.C.K., Kobarid 1995, p. 31.

Ravelnik
Austro-Hungarian first line of defence in the Bovec area
After the Italian occupation of Bovec
in August 1915, the Austro-Hungarian Army further reinforced its first
line of defence at the eastern rim of
the Bovec basin, especially across two
hills: Ravelnik (519 m) and StrĹžiĹĄÄ?e
(486 m). The two elevations form a
natural blockade which was changed
by the Austro-Hungarian soldiers by
means of fortified positions, caves and
trenches to the pillar of their defence.
An outdoor museum is arranged on
the slope of Mt. Ravelnik in the area
of the onetime Austro-Hungarian
first line of defence. A circular path
connects the cleansed and restored

trenches and connection tunnels, pillboxes, caves, machine-gun emplacements and reconstructed cabins. There
are a lot of remains in this relatively
small area.

Access
About 1.5 km from Bovec, in the
direction of Predel and the Trenta
valley, there is a First World War
military cemetery. From the cemetery you continue in the direction
of Trenta another few hundreds
of meters, where a trail branches
to the right from the main road.
After some minutes of walk you
reach the information board, at
which the circular path starts
through the outdoor museum.
Altitude above sea level
Starting point: Bovec 460 m
Museum: 519 m
Tour duration: 1 hour
Difficulty: Undemanding
GPS: 46.339725, 13.571506

Map
Outdoor Museum
Ravelnik

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5
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cave

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cabin

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shooting shield

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observation post

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shell hit

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fortification with a loophole
The Walk of Peace
info board

50 m

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7

0

passage trench

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1

zemljevid
muzeja

Kal-Koritnica
Trenta

military cemetery
Bovec
Log pod Mangartom

23 June 1916
Well, after I had shaved myself, I was also told that tomorrow would be Sunday; and
I thought: let it be. Sunday? What do I profit from Sunday? Shall I possibly go to the
holy service? Shall I throw bowls or go to see my girl? Nothing.
No, those times have all gone!
Albin Mlakar, Dnevnik 1914 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 1918,
TuristiÄ?na agencija K.C.K., Kobarid 1995, p. 86.

Čelo
Austro-Hungarian gun positions
The outdoor museum Čelo represents
gun fortification which was built by
the Austro-Hungarian Army on the
slope of Mt. Svinjak with an excellent view in the spring of 1915, just
before the Italian–Austro-Hungarian
encounter. The fortification was part
of the Bovec blockade system (Sperre
Flitsch) that played an important role
in the defence of the valley part of the
front line in the Bovec area.
The main part of the fortification
consists of 200-metre long trench with
masoned walls which connects two
gun positions with a kitchen,
an observation post,

two dormitories for 40 men, and a
shelter for 20 soldiers. The trench had
150 crenels for riflemen. A beautiful
view is offered on Čelo over the Bovec
basin, Mt. Rombon and the other surrounding mountains.

Access
From the village Kal-Koritnica,
which lies at 3-km distance from
Bovec in the direction of the Trenta
valley, the access is possible from
two directions, and throughout the
tour you follow the marked path to
Mt. Svinjak.
Altitude above sea level
Start: Kal-Koritnica 460 m
Museum: 650 m
Tour duration: 2 hours
Difficulty: Undemanding
GPS: 46.341275, 13.584616

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3

2

Kal-Koritnica

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3

1

Kal-Koritnica

Map
Outdoor Museum
Ä&#x152;elo

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cave

2

gun position

3

dwelling place
info board

The Walk
of Peace

We were woken up by deep and heavy
rumble in the Bovec basin and on the
alp Zaprikraj. The pace of explosions
was violent, booming. I asked Sassella to
look at the watch: the hand showed two
in the morning of 24 October 1917.
Carlo Emilio Gadda, Bele탑ka iz Kobarida,
ZTT EST, Trst 2002, p. 38.

Zaprikraj
The Italian first line of defence
The outdoor museum Zaprikraj lies by
the path between the alps Zaprikraj
and Predolina above Drežnica. It
represents the well fortified Italian
first line of defence in the Krn range
which blocked the passage along the
valley between Mt. Krasji vrh and Mt.
Vršič. The heaviest battles between the
two adversary armies in the Krn range
were fought in the autumn of 1915.
The museum's circular path runs
through the trenches, caves, gun- and
mortar positions, past the remains of
cabins, a pillbox and the restored memorial plaque dedicated to the killed
Italian lieutenant.

Visit to the museum Zaprikraj is a
whole-day tour which, in addition
to revealing the history of the First
World War, offers many pleasures of
hiking in the unspoiled nature, where
the alps are still active.

Access
At Kobarid you turn towards
the village Drežnica (5 km) and
continue to Drežniške Ravne
(2 km). Further on, follow the
way-signs for the alp Zaprikraj.
At the trough, where the asphalt
road ends, the macadam track
starts. This is the starting point
for the hiking tour to the outdoor
museum Zaprikraj.
Altitude above sea level
Start: Drežniške Ravne 575 m
Museum: 1259 m
Tour duration: 5–6 hours
Difficulty: Medium demanding
GPS: 46.293371, 13.613884

Map
Outdoor Museum
Zaprikraj

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Alp Predolina
Golobar

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2

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2

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Alp Zaprikraj
Dre탑nica

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2

mortar position
observation post

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cave

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pillbox

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shell hit

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dwelling places

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5

The Walk of Peace
monument

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info board

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trenches
0

50 m

100 m

25 October 1917
I can guess from the powerful fiery noise
that the enemy in front of us is very strong.
Few minutes were enough for the complete
change of the situation which became very
grave for us. At this moment, it is important that we defend against the attacks of
the too powerful enemy the just conquered
positions on the Kolovrat and keep them.
Erwin Rommel, Preboj pri Tolminu 1917,
Kobariški muzej, Kobarid 1997, p. 28.

Kolovrat
The Italian third line of defence
On the right bank of the Soča, between
Kobarid and Tolmin, there rises a steep
slope of the Kolovrat ridge from which
a splendid view opens over the onetime Isonzo Front battlefield, stretching from Mt. Kanin, the Krn range to
Mt. Sveta Gora; the view on the other
side stretches over the Veneto region
and Friuli lowland all to the Adriatic.
During the First World War the Italian
Army built on the Kolovrat range an
extensive system of the third line of
defence, called “linea d’armata”, a part of
which is now arranged as the outdoor
museum. It presents commanders and
observation posts, machine-gun and
gun positions, caves and networks of
trenches. A visit to these positions is of

special interest thanks to various details,
such as spiral stairs in one of the caves,
and also due to partly original materials
which were used in the wartime. The
outdoor museum Kolovrat is a transborder museum which continues on the
Italian side, too.

Access
On the road from Kobarid towards
Tolmin, in the settlement Idrsko,
turn towards the village Livek
(5 km), then turn left towards
Livške Ravne (4 km). Continue for
the next 3 km along the ridge of
Kolovrat to the smaller parking site.
Located at the information board is
the entry to the outdoor museum.
Access is possible also from the village Volče or from the Italian side.
Altitude above sea level
Start: parking site 1065 m
Museum: the highest point 1115 m
Tour duration: 1–2 hours
Difficulty: Undemanding
GPS: 46.185862, 13.660276

rje
Sola

Na gradu
Klabuk

1115m

gore
M en e
Volč rje
Sola
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Trinški vrh
1136m

ITALIJA
SLOVENIJA
ek
Liv
rid

ba

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Map
Outdoor Museum
Kolovrat

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restored section of positions
a former border guardhouse
of the Yugoslav army
info board

50 m

100 m

The Walk
of Peace
trenches
vantage point

However, man by the Soča got used to
bearing everything. Cold, heat, dust,
rock camps, water shortage, flies. He
overcame fear of shells and air torpedoes, of bombs that fall from the sky,
and of blasting mines which turn up
ground, of daggers, hand grenades,
booming fire. He got used to everything,
almost to death. He only couldn’t get
used to one thing – to Mrzli vrh.
Alice Schalek, Posočje: marec do julij 1916,
Karantanija, Ljubljana 2005, p. 261.

Mrzli vrh
Austro-Hungarian and Italian first lines of defence
Above the valley of the Soča, on its left
bank near Tolmin, the steep slope of
Mt. Mrzli vrh (1359 m) rises. In the
First World War, it figured as one of
the key points in the Austro-Hungarian defence of the Tolmin bridgehead.
The ridge of Mt. Mrzli vrh is densely
crisscrossed by numerous trenches
and caves of the two belligerent sides.
Just below the top of the mountain,
in its north-eastern slope, the AustroHungarian Army hollowed roomy
caves. In one of them a concrete altar
was erected by the Hungarian soldiers
in 1917.

The remains of the Austro-Hungarian
and Italian first lines of defence on
Mt. Mrzli vrh are connected with a
circular path which runs past two still
active alps, Pretovč and Lapoč.

A beautiful view opens from Mt. Mrzli
vrh over the onetime battlefield of the
Isonzo Front.
Just below the top of Mt. Mrzli vrh there
is a restored monument on the onetime
Austro-Hungarian military cemetery.

Access
It is possible to reach the outdoor
museum Mrzli vrh from several
directions. The easiest access runs
from the village Krn, but you can
also start from the village Zatolmin. The path from the village
Krn gradually ascends to the alp
Pretovč (1.5 hrs walk).
At the alp, the arranged circular
path through the outdoor museum
starts.
Altitude above sea level
Start: t he village Krn 870 m
Zatolmin 258 m
the alp Pretovč 1142 m
Museum: the highest point 1359 m
Tour duration:
from the village Krn: 5–6 hours;
from the village Zatolmin:
6–7 hours
Difficulty: Demanding
GPS: 46.217555, 13.696775

monument
Zatolmin

Javorca
Tolmin

Map
Outdoor Museum
Mrzli vrh

village Krn
Kobarid

info board
military chapel
The Walk of Peace

Record of the order, found with an
Italian P.O.W.:
“It is difficult to pick up a rose from
Sveta Lucija, it is easy to be pricked by
its thorns. But your brides, wives and
mothers want exactly this rose. Bring it
to them, at any cost.”
Alice Schalek, Posočje: marec do julij 1916,
Karantanija, Ljubljana 2005, p. 212.

Mengore
Austro-Hungarian first line of defence at the Tolmin bridgehead
Mengore hill, together with the two
neighbouring hills, Cvetje and BuÄ?enica,
was the core of the Austro-Hungarian
defence of the Tolmin bridgehead. The
entire area was strongly fortified with
numerous trenches and caves. All the
time during the 29 months of the war,
the Austro-Hungarian positions on
Mengore hill were exposed to constant
shelling by the Italian artillery from
higher elevations on the right bank of
the SoÄ?a. Neither side attained any bigger success. It was exactly this area that
served in the decisive 12th Isonzo Battle
as the point of departure for the successful breakthrough of the joint AustroHungarian-German Army, which

pushed the Italian troops from the
Upper SoÄ?a Region all to the river Piave.
A circular path through the museum
runs past well-preserved and restored
remains of the Austro-Hungarian first
line of defence.

It runs past trenches, caves, memorial
tablets, remains of stone walls of cabins,
a water reservoir and the monument of
the onetime military cemetery. On the
top of Mengore hill stands a church,
dedicated to the Holy Virginâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Name.

Access
The pass of Poljance, which is the
starting point for the visit to the
outdoor museum Mengore, lies 2
km from Most na SoÄ?i in the direction of Nova Gorica. The parking
site is arranged on the pass and the
information board is also there.
Altitude above sea level
Start: the pass of Poljance 253 m
Museum: the highest point 453 m
Tour duration: 2â&#x20AC;&#x201C;3 hours
Difficulty: Undemanding
GPS: 46.166621, 13.721516

German Charnel House

Map
Outdoor Museum
Mengore

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searchlight position

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gun position

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howitzer position

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pass point

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water cistern

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the IV/53 command

TOLMIN

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military cemetery
Modrejce

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monument at
the onetime cemetery
observation post
the church of the
Holy Virgin's Name

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abyss

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troop's cave

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the KanduÄ? memorial plaque

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the PaveliÄ&#x2021; memorial plaque

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33 22

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military
cemetery
Modrejce
MODREJC E

info board
The Walk of Peace

Cvetje

Worth seeing!
The war still rages. Nevertheless, the
peace will eventually bless all the valleys,
and the old heavenly tranquillity will
mercifully reign over the mountains.
Then, we shall visit the graves and pay
homage to our dead heroes.
Dr. Julius Kugy, Moja vojna v Julijcih, Edizioni
Saisera, Tavagnacco 2008, p. 139.

Guided tours

The “Walks of Peace in the Soča Region Foundation” organizes guided tours along
the Walk of Peace, through outdoor museums and other sites of the Isonzo Front.
Guided tours upon the previous appointment are organized throughout the year.

Recommended ...
¶The book : The Walk of Peace
– A Guide along the Isonzo Front in
the Upper Soča Region
¶ The thematic map: The Isonzo Front
from Mt. Rombon to Mengore Hill
¶ The presentation DVD: The Walk
of Peace in the Soča Region

… visit to the Kobarid Museum and the Tolmin Museum, the fortification Kluže,
private museum collections and the exhibition The Walk of Peace in the Information Centre of the Walk of Peace Foundation.